Fists already swinging in governor's race

She has faulted Gov. Rick Perry for everything that has gone wrong in Texas in the nearly nine years he has governed.

But Perry and his campaign aides have fired back just as aggressively, blasting the 16-year record of the senior senator from Texas. They are painting her as a Washington insider who can't make tough decisions and is often cozy with Democrats.

The dogfight between the two Republican heavyweights may be the only drama we will see in the 2010 Texas gubernatorial race, unless a prominent Democrat decides to run.

So far, only three Democrats are lined up to run, but none is exciting the party base.

Former state Rep. Tom Schieffer, best known for being a business partner and political supporter of former President George W. Bush, has gotten off to a rocky start, according to news reports. Party loyalists seem unwilling to forgive him for his ties to Bush.

Equally discouraging for some Democrats is that as of June 30, Schieffer had raised less than $1 million, and a good chunk of that was a loan. If he can't raise money, how does he expect to run a credible race against Perry or Hutchison?

Even the best-known Democrat would need millions of dollars to beat someone of the political stature of Perry or Hutchison, who have raised a combined $22 million.

Then there is singer and humorist Kinky Friedman, who in the 2006 election ran as an independent but now plans to run as a Democrat. Friedman proved he's not a good campaigner even though he had some punchy lines. And he is in worse financial shape than Schieffer. He has about $30,000 in the bank.

Another candidate is Mark Thompson of Garland, a former candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner. Thompson is virtually unknown and didn't raise a dollar in the first half of this year.

Time is running out for Democrats to find a strong candidate. It takes months to launch a credible campaign and to raise the money needed to run against Perry or Hutchison.

Some influential party stalwarts wanted state Sen. Kirk Watson to run, but last week the Austin Democrat said he would seek re-election instead. About the only hope some Democrats have now is former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle.

But Earle, who made his name prosecuting well-known state officials - though not always successfully - including Hutchison and former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, is not a sure bet either.

Seliger's town hall meetings

This week, state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, will host a series of town hall meetings throughout his Senate District 31. The first in the Panhandle is 7-8 p.m. Wednesday at Amarillo Central Library, 413 Southeast Fourth Ave.